JOHNNY RAMONE TRIBUTE SHOW | HOLLYWOOD FOREVER CEMETARY
Johnny Ramone Tribute
“Pulp Fiction” 30th Anniversary
at Hollywood Forever Cemetary
June 7, 2024 by Kevin Gomez
If you had told me 30 years ago that I would be at a cemetery watching some of my favorite punk artists cover one of my favorite bands, followed by a screening of my favorite movie, I would have thought you had woken up from some strange fever dream. And yet, that’s exactly where I found myself Sunday evening.
As she does every year, Linda Ramone, the widow of Johnny Ramone, threw a huge bash in celebration of the late great Ramones guitarist. Except this year it was a celebration of two great pop culture icons – Johnny and the 30th anniversary of “Pulp Fiction.”
The sold-out event brought out hundreds to gather around the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where both Johnny and fellow bassist Dee Dee Ramone are buried.
Spotted in the crowd Sunday night were Tony Kanal of No Doubt, actor Colin Ferrell, and Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe.
When gates opened at 6 p.m., artist Shepard Fairey was on the ones and twos spinning ‘70s punk and glam rock.
At around 7, Linda Ramone, CJ Ramone, and Rosanna Arquette (longtime friend of Johnny and Linda’s, and co-star of “Pulp Fiction” came out to thank everyone for showing up.
Linda said the evening’s proceeds would be going to The Johnny and Linda Ramone Foundation, to support cancer research.
At 7:30, a band calling themselves Cretin Commandos played about 20 songs and in true Ramones fashion, they did it all in about 30 minutes.
Most notably on guitar and lead vocals was Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, who kicked off their set with “Durango ’95,” “Teenage Lobotomy,” and “Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment.”
The band was then joined by CJ Ramone, longtime bassist for the band, and sang a song originally recorded by Motörhead about the legendary band appropriately titled, “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.”
CJ left and Armstrong resumed lead vocals on “Judy is a Punk” and “Cretin Hop.” They were then joined by the one and only Billy Idol. Idol sounded phenomenal covering “Beat on the Brat,” “Blitzkrieg Bop,” and finally “Do You Wanna Dance?”
Later, Idol returned to the stage to introduce the special guest of the evening. Idol captured it perfectly – Johnny Ramone (and the Ramones) and “Pulp Fiction” are “two absolute pillars of our generation’s culture.” It was his honor to welcome none other than Vincent Vega himself from the film, Mr. John Travolta.
Travolta came out in black leather jacket and jeans to a huge ovation of adoring fans. He said tonight was a celebration of “Johnny Ramone, and the Ramones, the greatest punk rock band ever.”
He pointed to the heavens and gave thanks to Johnny, who had said “Pulp Fiction” was in his top 10 favorite movies. Travolta then left to introduce the movie as it played on the big screen, but not before doing his famous twist scene from the movie as he exited.
What a beautiful and almost random gathering this evening was, in the best way possible. You have to imagine Johnny himself was smiling down as so many people came to celebrate him “out there having fun in that warm, California sun.”
